ANNIVERSARY: 2015 JULY 25 - Cole Hamels No-Hits Cubs

Don't worry I am not really returning to blogging, I just wanted to make sure that Cole Hamels 2015 No-Hitter versus the Chicago Cubs didn't not go unnoticed.

2016 Topps Wrigley Celebrates 100 Years WRIG-21 

How cool is it to be featured in an insert set that is dedicated to another team.

Cole Hamels 5-0 no-hit victory versus the Cubs was a bittersweet moment.  On the one hand you have the excitement of the monumental accomplishment of one of the franchises most important players, however on the other hand it would be Hamels last appearance in a Phillies uniform.

A week later Hamels was traded to the Texas Rangers along with reliever Jake Diekman. The return was a bunch of ballplayers that have had varied degrees of major league time. The big chip so far has been Jorge Alfaro who the Phillies flipped for JT Realmuto.

Since leaving Philadelphia Hamels has pitched well and made the postseason with both the Rangers (2015-16) and oddly enough the Cubs in 2018.

Unfortunately he is now with the Phillies division rival Braves - however he is currenlty on the 45 day IL

5 Years Ago
For our original posting on the No-Hitter click here.

Sources and Links
NoHitter Index
Baseball-Ref
Amazon
mlbTradeRumors

Cole Hamels SABRmetrician?

 2010 UD Pure Heat #PH-4 Cole Hamels 

In a Dallas Moring News article over the weekend Cole Hamels spoke about the use of Analytics with his new club the Texas Rangers:

"The scouting here is much more reliant on analytics than I had," Hamels said. "So much of what I did before was based on experience. Everything is right there on the iPad. I've been able to get stuff from the analytics that allows me to get something about [opponents'] approaches and get a better feel for their strengths and weaknesses."

This is only confirming what Phillies fans have always suspected, the team is lagging behind other organizations in the use of statistical analysis.

The significance here is that as far as I know Cole Hamels is the most prominent player to point out the Phillies lack of emphasis.

Specifically here Hamels points to knowing an opponents Strengths and Weaknesses. This is not anywhere near new. Curt Schilling has mentioned numerous times that his preparation included the keeping of copious notes on opponents and even umpires.

Of course breaking away from traditional approaches is never easy. I also recall the late Cory Lidle was derided by other members of the Phillies pitching staff of the era (2004-2006 Phillies) for over-reliance on the computer.

 2010 UD Pure Heat #PH-4 Cole Hamels (b-side)

Pure Heat
Selected tonight's card because Apparently Cole was Winning with the Phillies using PURE HEAT rather than big time data crunching.

I don't believe All the Answers to building a better baseball teams are in the stats, but I do think that the Phillies could make more and better use of the numbers.

Sources and Links
Dallas Morning News
Baseball-ref

Cole Hamels Tosses No-Hitter

It was great watching Cole Hamels No-Hitter yesterday. During the course of a long season even the worst teams have bright spots, I am glad to see Cole Hamels got to be part of one.

2006 Fleer Tradition #29 Cole Hamels (rc - sort of)

The above Fleer card specifies that it is Cole Hamels Rookie Card, but that designation may vary. Hamels had cards at least as far back as 2003.   2006 was the first year of the current Rookie Card guidelines. Essentially a player gets the RC logo once they make a 25 man roster - apparently September Call ups don't count, I haven't bothered to research the latter point, but I question whether it is still followed.

Hamels came up in May of 2006 and thus earned the RC flair, His debut is covered in the text on the back of the card.

2006 Fleer Tradition #29 Cole Hamels (b-side)

One of the issues I have always had with Upper Deck is they have no problem wasting acres of real estate on the flip sides

Snapshots

2006 0904 Cole Hamels vs Craig Biggio (click to enlarge)

This is one of best photos I took early in my digital camera apprenticeship. Cole Hamels is facing Craig Biggio. It is a great photo to bring out today - on the Day that Biggio goes into the Hall and Hamels is fresh off his no-hitter.

This is one of the common shots I go after, the ball is in motion between pitcher and batter - in this pix the pitch appears to be pretty close to dead center of that 60 feet 6 inch stretch.

To read more about the great game where this photo was taken click here.

Extra Innings
Since we are covering No-Hitters this year I am adding this posting to our Year of the No-Hitter index.

Sources and Links
1990 Year of the No-Hitter Index
Cardboard Connection
Topps Baseball Card Database

SNAPSHOTS 2015 05 08: Mets @ Phillies

As a fan it is tough to watch a bad team, but if you look hard enough there are appealing games on the schedule. Friday Nights was one of those:

-It was a Friday Night, a good opportunity for a worker bee like myself to get to a game
-The weather was favorable
-The Division Leading New York Mets were in town
-And there was a Big Time Pitching matchup, Matt Harvey vs Cole Hamels

SnapShots

2015 04 08 Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels was the Ace that won out this time. He held the Mets to four hits and a manufactured run through seven innings. The Phillies southpaw recorded 8 Ks against 2 walks. The bullpen did the rest, Ken Giles perfect inning, Papelbon recovers from a leadoff single with a couple of Ks and a line out.

Freddy Galvis and Dilson Herrera 2015 05 08

The Offense was led by Freddy Galvis who had 3 hits and a couple of stolen bases along with Ryan Howard who had a pair of RBIs including a solo Homer

Matt Harvey 2015 05 08

Prior to Friday night's start Harvey had handled the Phillies pretty easily. His night wasn't bad just not as dominant as prior outings. Three runs over six for the Dark Knight, one of those runs was pretty much scored by Freddy Galvis' legs in the first inning. Freddy singled, stole 2nd, and came home on a Ryan Howard ground single when Galvis was attempting steal third.

 

Cole Hamels vs John Mayberry Jr 2015 05 08

Beautiful Night for a ballgame, nice to get a W vs a quality starter.

Sources and Links
baseball-ref

Happy Phillies Opening Day 2015

Regardless of a teams prospects Opening Day is always a reason for me to celebrate. It is the emergence of spring, the promise of Summer and the return of baseball. I am a fan of the Phillies but also more importantly a fan of the game - this certainly helps makes leaner times for the local nine much more bearable.

2012 Topps Opening Day #196 Cole Hamels

Today is a fairly attractive game in the 162 game marathon that is a Major League Season. Not only is it opening day, but you have a marquee opponent in the Boston Red Sox. In addition both teams are sending out their aces, although the Red Sox #1 Clay Buchholz is coming off a rather poor season.

The Phillies don't appear to have a lot to look forward to in 2015, however I expect big things from Cole Hamels. Here is hoping that Today is the first start in a Cy Young Season for the Phillies Southpaw. 

2012 Topps Opening Day

For the most part I don't get Opening Day as a product. I don't see it as any more budge conscience than flagship, packs are half as much but have half as many cards - thats a push. You do get a handful of images of cards that we won't see until S2 which is nice. The most appealing aspect of OD is that you can build the complete set at less cost simply because it is smaller. I have never analyzed the checker but I assume it has a decent cross section of veterans and rookie sensations.

First Game Report of 2015 - Yankees at Phillies

Team Phungo's return to Spring Training for the first time in roughly a decade was one damp and dreary day.

Despite a forecast that stated 72 degrees and Sunny, It was a very grey day. There were several showers that passed through and we watched the temperature drop into the lower 60s.

Regardless we made the most of the afternoon and came home with these random observations.

Phillies

Cole Hamels put together a solid two innings giving up a lone single and picking up a pair of strikeouts.

The Phillies offense hasn't changed, They managed just 4 hits versus Yankees pitching. Ryan Howard was 0-2 and went down on a called strikeout in his first AB. The Phillies sole run came on a Homer by Non-Roster Invitee Xavier Paul.

Rule 5 pickup Odubel Herrera looked decent enough and I think he could warrant a spot with the team. I was less encouraged by other players including Jeff Francouer, minor leaguers Mike Nesseth and Cord Phelps.

 Yankees

Didi Gregorious has the uneventful of replacing Derek Jeter. The Yankees have given Gregorious the #18 which was worn by Hiroki Kuroda last year.

Aaron Judge was the highest rated Yankees prospect  (#2) in the game. It is easy to see why the Yankees get excited by the 22 year old outfielder. He is one big man - above he is pictured next to Ryan Howard.

Judge picked up a single and worked a walk. He was also picked off in the game - just after the above photo was taken. 

Sources and Links
MLB game day
baseball-ref

Checker 2013 Phungo

 2013 Phungo #1 Cole Hamels

Players in Green are links to a posting on the card.

Card	Subject	Team
1	Cole Hamels	Phillies
2	Derek Jeter	Yankees
3	Harold Baines	White Sox
4	Ralph Kiner	Pirates
5	Adam Jones	Orioles
6	Ryan Howard	Phillies
7	Joe Mauer	Twins
8	Hunter Pence	Giants//Phils
9	Domonic Brown	Phillies
10	Chipper Jones	Braves
11	Jimmy Rollins	Phillies
12	Joel Hanrahan	Pirates
13	Manny Machado	Orioles
14	Paul Konerko	White Sox
15	Dick Allen	Phillies
16	Giancarlo Stanton	Marlins
17	Todd Helton	Rockies
18	Matt Cain	Giants
19	Carlos Beltran	Cardinals
20	Jim Thome	Orioles
21	Yadier Molina	Cardinals
22	McCutchen	Pirates
23	Starlin Castro	Cubs
24	Miguel Cabrera	Tigers
25	Cliff Lee	Phillies
26	Chase Utley	Phillies
27	Placido Polanco	Phillies
28	Buster Posey	Giants
29	Greg Dobbs	Marlins
30	Prince Fielder	Tigers
31	Dave Winfield	Padres
32	Matt Wieters	Orioles
33	Ruben Amaro Jr	Phillies
34	Halladay	Phillies
35	Justin Verlander	Tigers
36	Jeff Francis	Rockies
37	Stephen Strasburg	Nationals
38	Nick Swisher	Indians
39	Jarrod Saltalamacchia	Red Sox
40	Rick Sutcliffe	Orioles
41	Scott Rolen	Reds
42	Juan Pierre	Phillies
43	Todd Frazier	Reds
44	Evan Longoria	Rays
45	Terry Mulholland	Phillies
46	Nick Markakis	Phillies
47	Daniel Schlereth	Orioles
48	Pablo Sandoval	Giants
49	Vance Worley	Phillies
50	Clayton Kershaw	Dodgers
51	Carlos Ruiz	Phillies
52	Jason Heyward	Braves
53	Bobby Abreu	Dodgers
54	Chris Heisey	Reds
55	Ryan Zimmerman	Nationals
56	AJ Ellis	Dodgers
57	Zack Wheeler	Mets
58	Jonathan Papelbon	Phillies
59	Tony Campana	Cubs
60	Bruce Harper	Nationals
61	Erik Kratz	Phillies
62	Jose Molina	Rays
63	Jesus Montero	Mariners
64	Darin Ruf	Phillies
65	John F Kennedy	President
66	Tommy Joseph	Phillies
67	Jonathon Niese	Mets
68	Scott Hartnell	Hockey Flyers
69	Joaquin Benoit	Tigers
70	Ichiro	Yankees